[kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK InternetStudy Report

[Joan Walumbe]

Walu,

I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural
communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that lack
of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk (who
already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short break in
shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no demand
for the internet among the residents what is the point?

So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their a
market that demands the service or is it a little of both?

I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if it did
not make any financial sense.  Can anyone provide some info/statistics on
demand for internet access in rural areas?

Joan Walumbe

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Walubengo" <jwalubengo at kcct.ac.ke>
To: <kictanet at kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM
Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK InternetStudy
Report


Day 5- Statistics on Affordability.

I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust relationships b/w
IGOs/ISPs...feel  free to continue contributing on that as well as on
today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking
encouraged by internet technologies ...)

and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting Bungoma in
early August 2007.  This would be quite a welcome and timely development,
but at what cost to the consumer? To  what extend will the (internet)
services be affordable to the rural/average communities?

Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap by the
Bill Gates of  this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on the
street.  In trying to get an  objective measurement for affordability, the
Report pegged it on the national average  incomes.  In other words, if the
monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the  average monthly
cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the average
Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes way
beyond their means  or too expensive or not affordable.

The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet
Dial-up/Desktop  services costed over 200% the average incomes (too
expensive), while the same access through  mobile phones was costing just 8%
of the average incomes (quite affordable).  What needs to  be done in order
to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans?

1 day deliberation on this one.

walu.